Preview

Born in the Somerset village of Backwell, Amy got her first Radio 1 airplay at the age of just 14. As half of the girl-group 'Two of a Mind', she recorded a cover version of 'The Great Pretender' and reached number 75 in the charts. Aged 16, Amy decided to go solo, performing as a singer/songwriter. She went on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, and settled permanently in Wales.

Her voice has been described as "tough-but-tender", having a "soulful smokiness" and, quite simply, "amazing". Amy writes her own music, and her songs combine a graceful intensity and cutting lyrics with a beautiful, emotive performance style. She has been in demand over the past year not only for live gigs but for radio and television appearances too. 2003 marked the release of her first full-length album, and she also headlined this year's Lorient Interceltique Festival in front of several thousand people. Amy was also a major success on Eric Bibb's last tour, and has supported Lenny Kravitz.

She has made a number of television appearances, performing live on 'Cable T.V.', (The Stereophonics' Stuart Cable's chat show). She sang in Welsh on Welsh language show 'Sesiwn Hwyr' and performed live on, of all things, BBC2's 'Working Lunch'. She is a regular guest on BBC Radio Wales, has appeared a number of times on BBC 6 Music and has recently started gaining more airplay on Radio 2.

Amy is equally mesmerising live with just her guitar or, as she is tonight, with her band, featuring Dave Bronze (of Eric Clapton's band) on bass and Aled Richards (ex-Catatonia) on drums. Last summer, Amy played The Cambridge Folk Festival and Cardiff Mardi Gras, to over 30,000 people.

The Voice of her generation - a star is born - Ouest-France

Amy is a ray of light one moment shot through with sorrow the next. Her voice is amazing & and its suddenly clear why she's getting so much recognition - Big Issue

The new Joni Mitchell, with her distinctive voice and well-crafted songs - London Evening Standard

Best Female Solo Artist, Welsh Music Awards 2002

Jack Harris

Jack Harris is a singularly gifted young singer/songwriter from Builth Wells. His regular opening spot at Rhayader's Carad venue has impressed visiting headlining American artists, including Eliza Gilkyson and Eric Taylor, so much that he is due to travel to the States this year to appear at one of the most prestigious American songwriter festivals, as well as to 'open' for Eliza Gilkyson at a number of her shows. A bright future beckons for young Jack - oh, and he's just seventeen years old!

Review

Well, if 2004 continues in this vein, we'll be happy bunnies here at Cambria Arts HQ. Audience numbers - 130 plus, we reckon - far exceeded our ever-cautious expectations, and a comfortable near-full house enjoyed an evening of music that oozed quality in abundance.

Late addition Builth Wells-based opener Jack Harris stilled the just-arrived punters, demonstrating why he's impressed visiting American folk songwriters - Eliza Gilkyson and our friend Eric Taylor among them - so profoundly.A lanky seventeen-year-old, his initially nervous guitar work and stage presence soon settled, and his voice is at a brave half-way point on the way to being a great one. With songs as good as 'Breakfast' and the astonishingly literary 'Tailor of Aquitaine', his dream-come-true invitation to appear at the fabled South-By-Southwest Songwriter Festival in Austin, Texas in March could well result in a a thumbs-up and some handy career guidance from a few more of the legendary US songwriters that he so obviously reveres (and emulates). The Talbot crowd recognize promise when they see it, and they gave young Jack a warm reception (and bought some of his CDs). Jack's on his way.

Another thing that's conducive to a harmonious vibe - and a smug grin or two - at HQ is when the artist lives up to the hype. Amy Wadge did just that, and then some ... A five-foot-nothing blonde bundle of energy with a completely guileless friendly-girl-next-door persona and a God-given voice that ranges from an intimate whisper to a full-on gritty gospel shout, Amy's an irresistible and riveting performer; add on effortless 6- and 12-string guitar playing - driving rhythm technique with delicate picking to hand when required - and confident, unfussy piano work, and you know you're in the presence of a class act. Her songs are often melodically unsurprising, but they're tailored for immediate appeal, with intelligent lyrics linked to hooks that register in the subconscious ... we got privileged first airings of a couple of tracks, 'No Sudden Moves' and 'Grace', from the new CD (released 26 Jan.), while 'This Is You, This Is Me' was brand-new, save for a sound-check run-through. On 'Just In Time', 'Valley Boy', and 'It's Alright' Amy rocks out convincingly, underpinned by what must be the dream rhythm section: ex-Catatonia drummer Aled Richards and bass wizard Dave Bronze (whose 'other' gig is in Eric Clapton's touring band) play it straight, solid, but with a subtle second-nature feel for Amy's innately melodic drive. The trio's ensemble work reminds you, as have the likes of Steve Forbert in the past, that a minimal line-up can rock like nobody's business.

With the exception of a couple of tobacco terrorists, hell-bent on contravening the otherwise universally respected No Smoking edict (we thank you all), this was as good a way to start the year as it gets.